Volker, Vocals -
John Jackson, Guitar -
Joe Nemchek, Guitars -
Gary D'Andrea, Bass -
John Chiechi, Drums
Liferaft at Mohegan Sun Arena
Under The Radar at Mohegan Sun Arena
Influences
The Verve, Rolling Stones, Coldplay, U2, Ryan Adams, Aerosmith, Stereophonics, Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, The Who, Reef, The Beatles, Radiohead, Dylan, Wilco, Bill Withers, Oasis, Johnny Cash, The Charlatans, The Doors, Embrace, Charlie Sexton...
"8 out of 10! Their rootsy rock is built for stadia, and if there were any justice in the world, the stupidly melodic 'This Time' - with its loose E-Street groove and killer chorus - would be a radio hit of massive proportions. Seriously, they're that good."
-Classic Rock magazine issue 118 (UK)
“4 ½ Stars. …the sound is magnificent, beautifully heightening the atmospheres while capturing every instrument and note sung to its best advantage. Superb!” – All Music Guide (allmusic.com)
“4 ½ Stars. Throwing Rocks At The Sun knocked us on our asses. The Mercury Seed’s big, expansive sound gives a noble nod to all of the classic-rock greats… and the New York band’s melodic, guitar-fueled rock mixes toughness with sincerity. Some of the best guitar solos you’ll hear all year…it does fill a void in American rock with a truly remarkable record designed to reignite passion within music fans who often wonder where all the good music has gone.” – Sea Of Tranquility
“4 ½ Stars. This admirable indie album is far from the chunky, somewhat simplistic fare that passes for “alternative” rock today. The Mercury Seed play a guitar-heavy, always melodic brand of rock and roll that has shifting tempos, daring dynamics, and something that’s been missing from much modern rock – risk.” – Biloxi Sun Herald
"9 out of 10. From top to bottom, this album exemplifies what rock music is all about - captivating lyrics, driving melodies and solid instrumentation. It's a simple formula but it's something lacking in today's modern rock era. The Mercury Seed takes us back to the basics of how America fell in love with rock music..." - Stereo Subversion
If overcoming adversity builds character, The Mercury Seed have built enough to be reincarnated as Abe Lincoln. In the months leading up to the early 2007 release of Throwing Rocks At The Sun, the five-piece New York area band endured frustrating recording delays as well as an inferno that torched a practice space housing many of the band’s prized instruments. But determination prevailed over simple circumstance, and the new collection of songs emerged stronger for the experience. As the incendiary tracks on Sun attest, never — never —underestimate a band with something to prove.
“We really owed it to each other to raise our game on this record,” says lead singer Volker. “Plus, we had been performing some of these songs live and I think that’s why this record sounds more confident than our last.” Guitarist John Jackson adds, “Instead of doing straight live renditions of each song, we spent more time adding layers and textures. Listening back, it sounds like time well spent.”
Over several months during 2006, The Mercury Seed traveled Boston to track the bulk of Rocks in a recording studio near Fenway Park. The process, while ultimately successful, was unusually challenging. The band bested white-out snowstorms, rats the size of small circus animals and a nail-biting race with the clock. Not only that, working at top speed to finish recording before the studio’s eviction notice kicked in added an unexpected sense of urgency to the songs.
America is thirsty for melodic, well-written guitar-fueled rock. They need a tall drink of The Mercury Seed. Hitting new songwriting highs with Throwing Rocks At The Sun, the band knocked out a head-to-toe winner.
Emotionally charged and passionately played, the disc takes listeners on a hook-filled rollercoaster ride. While searing, soaring guitars dominate the swaggering “Under The Radar,” the track’s plaintive, stick-in-your-head lyrics seal the deal: “Feeling alone in a crowded room/Holding the words that get you through/Ghost of a past that’s chained to you.”
Another song garnering heaps of fan and critical attention is the heart-on-its-sleeve “Liferaft.” An obvious emphasis track with its captivating rescue-me message, listeners can almost imagine the swelling song’s key role in a future movie scene.
And, when the Seed turns up the heat, as they do on the driving lead track “This Time” and the power-riffing “Start Again,” it’s clear the band knows when to let the amps do the talking.
Having built a loyal fan base while honing their live act at such Manhattan haunts as The Knitting Factory, Arlene’s Grocery, Mercury Lounge, Sin-é and Crash Mansion, The Mercury Seed expanded its audience in 2006 after being selected by XM Radio to open for Bon Jovi at Mohegan Sun Arena before 15,000 fans. That same year, The Mercury Seed also made the finals in the inaugural Emergenza Music Festival.
They’ve since made fans out of strangers and converts out of non-believers. Anthony DeCurtis, Contributing Editor at Rolling Stone, said of the Seed, “These guys are true believers who play it and mean it from the depths of their souls.” The Mercury Seed continues to give an original spin to the time-honored two-guitars-bass-and-drums lineup. Previous releases include an eponymous debut and Dust. The band also contributed “The Great Big No” to the 2006 Lemonheads tribute CD Squealing Fans In My Tune.
Looks like we're fly by night again. i'm at compo for a couple days then over memphis/missouri. not your neck of the woods this time but glad to hear your rooting over to the lowcountry. holler anytime . DC
